Chapter 5: The Privileges of an Ultra S-Level Talent

As Song Qi was escorted away by Principal Shen, the transfer ceremony proceeded smoothly under the guidance of others. Out in the plaza, Wang Zihao was completely stunned.

“What—Song Qi, you’re serious about this?”
“You really awakened a super S-level talent?”

His mind was practically on fire. When he first heard Song Qi had chosen the Summoner class, he thought Song Qi had lost his mind. But when he learned it was a super S-level talent, he realized it was his own thoughts that had gone haywire. He even began to doubt whether he’d misheard. It wasn’t until the school leadership appeared and took Song Qi away that he finally accepted that everything unfolding before his eyes was real.

...

“All right, all right, everyone keep queuing,” someone called out. “Next, Peng Zhaomin from Senior Three, Class Four of Third High School, please come to the stage.”

“It’s my turn. I wonder if I might awaken a super S-level talent too!” Peng Zhaomin, the student, stepped onto the stage with a hint of excitement.

The sudden appearance of Song Qi, a super S-level talent, not only gave people something to talk about but also inspired a strange hope in everyone regarding their own talents.

Physical proximity always affects how people judge themselves. If someone far away achieves something, it barely registers. But when someone right before your eyes succeeds, it breeds the illusion that you could do it, too.

Yet reality doesn’t change for anyone.

...

Inside the Hall of Professionals, Song Qi completed his registration under Principal Shen’s supervision. Guided by a Whisperer, Song Qi sealed his personal information into a special sheet of paper.

“This is the method our people use to preserve important information,” explained the Whisperer. “From now on, your information will be classified as one of humanity’s confidential files. Only those at the level of City Lord or above can access it; all others are barred.”

“Furthermore, remember the details of your talent—no one, not even the City Lord, has the right to know them. Your talent is your final trump card. Never disclose it, not to anyone, not even your parents. If anyone asks, you are forbidden from telling.”

Principal Shen warned him sternly. “You must understand, although humanity continues to counterattack the demonic invaders from beyond, they are not without retaliation. Our geniuses are always their prime targets for elimination.”

“If the demons place a curse on you, the Whisperer can help resist it and alert you. So don’t find this bothersome—it’s for your protection.”

Song Qi nodded thoughtfully.

“It’s not bothersome, but is there any special treatment apart from this?” he asked. “I heard S-level talents get a house in the city—does that mean super S-level talents do as well?”

Perhaps because of his past life, even after reincarnating, what he cared most about was housing. His family of four still lived on the city’s edge, less than a kilometer from foul, reeking sewers. If the city were attacked by demons, their neighborhood would be the first to be destroyed.

At this, Principal Shen smiled. “Don’t worry—you won’t lack a house. Not just a house; from now on, all your basic needs—food, clothing, shelter, and transport—are taken care of by humanity.”

“Except for cultivation and leveling up, you need worry about nothing.”

They returned to the front desk. The young woman there seemed well prepared, smiling as she handed him several lists and a ring.

“Honored Mr. Song Qi, from today onward you are a VVIP of the Hall of Professionals. Here is your personal storage ring, which contains your identification and a mental imprint.”

Song Qi nodded and accepted it, smiling.

A storage ring? He already had a backpack gifted by his system, so the function overlapped. Still, it would serve as a cover for his system.

But that wasn’t all. The receptionist continued, “Here is your exclusive credit card. This list details your monthly allowance and supplies. This one contains information on houses purchased by the Professional Association—you may choose one to move into. This sheet lists the equipment and skill books you can claim directly at the Hall upon reaching certain levels. This one details your privileges, including but not limited to dungeon access, priority queuing, and special solo dungeon channels. And this one...”

The more Song Qi listened, the more astonished he became.

“There’s actually a monthly salary? That’s unexpected,” he murmured. “Let me see... Monthly allowance... eighty thousand credit points?!”

He was struck dumb.

Eighty thousand?!

His elder sister worked herself to exhaustion every day, earning barely ten thousand a month—and that was considered good. Ordinary professionals who avoided dungeons or wild combat and chose factory work made only five or six thousand credits monthly, about sixty or seventy thousand a year.

Yet he didn’t need to do anything and could claim eighty thousand per month—excluding the value of additional supplies.

“If the monthly cash alone is eighty thousand, what’s the credit card limit?” he asked.

“Your limit is temporarily set at ten million credit points. Of course, this is provisional and can be increased if circumstances allow.”

A sharp intake of breath escaped him.

Ten million?!

He’d never seen such sums in two lifetimes.

To suppress his excitement, he turned to the housing list.

At first glance, his breathing became rapid.

“Number 5, Number 7, Number 13 on First Avenue... Wait, isn’t First Avenue the central district? And if I’m not mistaken, these are all standalone houses in the city center?! Each one is at least three hundred square meters or more?!”

His eyes widened. Happiness had come so suddenly that he could hardly believe it.

The central district was the safest, most comfortable, and most prosperous part of the Seventh City. On the market, a single square meter here cost at least half a million credits.

Moreover, most houses were priceless, with demand far outstripping supply. If auctioned, prices could easily multiply five or six times. All the wealthy who valued security would spend fortunes for a home on First Avenue.

If it was a standalone house, the price would multiply yet again.

This was a place his family could never have dreamed of living.

“Well? Satisfied?” Principal Shen asked with a smile, pulling Song Qi back from his shock.

“Satisfied! More than satisfied!” Song Qi replied, barely containing his joy. “When can we move in?”

Principal Shen waved his hand dismissively. “Choose a house and move in whenever you like. Stay in each one for a day if you wish—they’re all vacant anyway. But in terms of value, these are mere trifles. The real treasures are those rare resources not listed here.”

“Mere trifles?!” Song Qi was exhilarated.

Just the houses were worth billions of credits. If such benefits were only appetizers, what could those rare resources possibly be?

“Of course, rare resources aren’t given all at once—they’ll be allocated in batches. Humanity’s resources are limited and not evenly distributed. The more outstanding you are—the more worth investing in—the greater your share of rare resources.”

“Remember Old Chu from First High School?” Principal Shen asked.

“I remember,” Song Qi replied.

The principal of First High School—the old man who’d just accused him of squandering humanity’s luck.

“The last super S-level talent in our city was his apprentice.”

So that’s how it was.

Song Qi suddenly understood. Put simply, the total resources remained the same; more mouths meant less food for each. With a new super S-level talent, Old Chu’s apprentice would get fewer resources. No wonder Old Chu was so hostile.

Rare resources, it seemed, could make a principal treat a student coldly.

Clearly, they were precious beyond measure.

“What exactly are these rare resources?” Song Qi asked.

“Well... You’ll find out when the time comes. I guarantee you’ll be amazed!” Principal Shen said mysteriously.

“We’ve talked so much, I almost forgot the main business,” he said, slapping his forehead and heading upstairs.

“Come, let’s summon your first creature. It just so happens there’s a summoning array ready here. Let’s hope your luck doesn’t run dry.”